Wednesday, December 07, 2016

A Letter from Jim Crockett Sr. in 1950

by Dick BourneMid-Atlantic Gateway

Historian Matt Farmer recently posted on his twitter account (@mattfarmer93) a letter from Jim Crockett, Sr. to Jack Phefer, a famous (and sometimes infamous) pioneer promoter of pro-wrestling from the 1920s to the 1960s.

The letter was written in July of 1950 and is seeking advice from the veteran promoter Pfefer, who at various times promoted or booked wrestling in New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Masachusetts, and Illinois.

We're particularly interested in the restaurant Mr. Crockett mentions in the second paragraph in the letter, in relation to a framed photograph he thought to be stolen.

It has been reported in many places that Jim Crockett ran his businesses
in an office in the back of a small restaurant in Charlotte, but have
never know further details. Charlotte Observer columnist Tom Sorensen wrote in a 1987 column:

"Crockett first worked out of his home. Then he owned a series of restaurants - the Queen's Soda & Grill, a predecessor to the Town House on Providence Road; the Ringside Soda Grill in Elizabeth; Wesley Heights Grill; Jim & Jake's. The restaurants were his office."

As always, we're hoping to eventually learn more and will report back here at that time.We love these little bits if history about Mr. Crockett and Jim Crockett Promotions.